Reefscaping challenge

nichevan · 01/14/2015, 06:50 PM

I have a 60g 48x13x24 that my mother surprised me with to start the hobby as something relaxing to do during college. Problem is the tank is plenty long and tall but limited on front to back depth.

I am having problems coming up with rock work ideas to make the reef look fairly natural with the space I have. I plan on using dry rock from marco rocks so I am not limited on time for getting it in the tank.

If anyone has a tank like this with pictures or any wisdom that might apply (besides getting a different tank, my mom is proud of her thoughtful present) I am all ears and willing to learn.

tc2007 · 01/14/2015, 06:56 PM

do you have a sump? You can put larger pieces of live rock in the sump to add more filtration and have less in your display. instead of putting lumps of rock, create a structure out of "shelf" type of rock like this. The idea behind this is to give lot of hiding spaces for your smaller fish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xifweoA0N4Q#t=1226

gone fishin · 01/14/2015, 07:00 PM

Those narrow foot prints are really tough to scape. I would look for very porous rock, that way you will get the best bang for your buck in a limited space. I had a 55 with a similar size and it very quickly turned into a sump.

Captain smoke · 01/14/2015, 07:48 PM

I have the same tank and I agree the landscape is very hard to get what you want out of it. I found that I had to break some of the larger rocks to make room.

Timfish · 01/14/2015, 08:00 PM

Do you have a cordless drill? Drilling rock to fit on PVC pipe for a stable structure is not difficult to do. Here's a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRjHGhs-aaY

Reef Frog · 01/14/2015, 08:52 PM

One idea is to saw a flat plane on the bottom & rear of a rock & place it snug in the rear. This will give some room for a sand bed & room for fish to swim. It looks really nice if executed correctly. It can look like a segment of a rock outcrop protruding forward. You can do overhangs & bulges at all depths to suit the needs of different corals.

There's no rule that LR has to be stacked like a pile of boulders. Take your time & you'll figure it out.

LadyG · 01/14/2015, 10:11 PM

I have a 55 and I don't plan on using it because of the narrowness of it. I do have a 50 that is shorter and deeper in depth and that is the tank I will be using once I get the stand built.

AmberLee · 01/15/2015, 01:51 AM

I saw on a video that there's these shelfs you can get to build your LR on and around. Could help? Will try find the link

AmberLee · 01/15/2015, 01:54 AM

Found it, watch at about 2:50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiqQ-NPYxSc

nichevan · 01/15/2015, 08:43 AM

Thank you all for your input.
I do have a sump that I made myself out of a 20g high and acrylic baffles I cut and siliconed in. It has been circulating for a month now and is holding up well. Using it to help interesting pieces of live rock from my LFS until my DT arrives.

I might have to try something like that acrylic shelf and instead of a visible bar half way down just cut it so a piece can be slotted in under the sand so it can be hidden.

Also on the other end create a column structure with with pvc or acrylic rod supports that has some outcroppings.

One my dry rock gets here I'll have plenty to try. Thank you all.

Waters40 · 01/15/2015, 10:05 AM

Here is my 60 from a few months ago if it helps.......

username in use · 01/15/2015, 10:46 AM

If you are using Marco Rocks, do most of the scape with (http://www.marcorocks.com/dry-rock/4...ox-prime-cuts/). You can silicone it to the back glass and keep a lot of open sand. Just put a few strategic pieces in front of the wall pieces to create the depth that you want.

Captain smoke · 01/15/2015, 01:27 PM

This is my 60g so far this is 40-45lbs of live rock and I'm looking at adding come to 30 this weekend. Im going to add one to two pieces to the island and going to build a second island on the right. BTW the tank just finished it cycle and I have one clown going to get my CUC this weekend and painting the back glass dark blue.

username in use · 01/15/2015, 01:40 PM

If you are going to have any corals that grow up, out or both, I wouldn't add any rock.

01/14/2015, 06:50 PM	#1
nichevan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 5	Reefscaping challenge I have a 60g 48x13x24 that my mother surprised me with to start the hobby as something relaxing to do during college. Problem is the tank is plenty long and tall but limited on front to back depth. I am having problems coming up with rock work ideas to make the reef look fairly natural with the space I have. I plan on using dry rock from marco rocks so I am not limited on time for getting it in the tank. If anyone has a tank like this with pictures or any wisdom that might apply (besides getting a different tank, my mom is proud of her thoughtful present) I am all ears and willing to learn. __________________ New to the Hobby. Working on setting up a 60g

01/14/2015, 07:00 PM	#3
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Those narrow foot prints are really tough to scape. I would look for very porous rock, that way you will get the best bang for your buck in a limited space. I had a 55 with a similar size and it very quickly turned into a sump. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

01/14/2015, 08:00 PM	#5
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	Do you have a cordless drill? Drilling rock to fit on PVC pipe for a stable structure is not difficult to do. Here's a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRjHGhs-aaY __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

01/14/2015, 10:11 PM	#7
LadyG Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 56	I have a 55 and I don't plan on using it because of the narrowness of it. I do have a 50 that is shorter and deeper in depth and that is the tank I will be using once I get the stand built. __________________ 37 Gallon tall/Refugium S skimmer/Aquamana 165 watt LED light/2-WM circulation pumps

01/15/2015, 01:51 AM	#8
AmberLee Eager to learn Newbie Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Australia Posts: 339	I saw on a video that there's these shelfs you can get to build your LR on and around. Could help? Will try find the link __________________ - Amba Current Tank Info: 275 Litre Cube (72G) Slowly becoming a mixed reef. So far only 2 Ocellaris Clownfish + CUC + 3 Linckia Starfish hitchikers+ a few softies & LPS

01/14/2015, 06:56 PM	#2
tc2007 Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Midwest Posts: 867	do you have a sump? You can put larger pieces of live rock in the sump to add more filtration and have less in your display. instead of putting lumps of rock, create a structure out of "shelf" type of rock like this. The idea behind this is to give lot of hiding spaces for your smaller fish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xifweoA0N4Q#t=1226

01/14/2015, 07:48 PM	#4
Captain smoke Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: somewhere in the midwest Posts: 227	I have the same tank and I agree the landscape is very hard to get what you want out of it. I found that I had to break some of the larger rocks to make room.

01/14/2015, 08:52 PM	#6
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	One idea is to saw a flat plane on the bottom & rear of a rock & place it snug in the rear. This will give some room for a sand bed & room for fish to swim. It looks really nice if executed correctly. It can look like a segment of a rock outcrop protruding forward. You can do overhangs & bulges at all depths to suit the needs of different corals. There's no rule that LR has to be stacked like a pile of boulders. Take your time & you'll figure it out.

01/15/2015, 01:54 AM	#9
AmberLee Eager to learn Newbie Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Australia Posts: 339	Found it, watch at about 2:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiqQ-NPYxSc __________________ - Amba Current Tank Info: 275 Litre Cube (72G) Slowly becoming a mixed reef. So far only 2 Ocellaris Clownfish + CUC + 3 Linckia Starfish hitchikers+ a few softies & LPS

01/15/2015, 08:43 AM	#10
nichevan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 5	Thank you all for your input. I do have a sump that I made myself out of a 20g high and acrylic baffles I cut and siliconed in. It has been circulating for a month now and is holding up well. Using it to help interesting pieces of live rock from my LFS until my DT arrives. I might have to try something like that acrylic shelf and instead of a visible bar half way down just cut it so a piece can be slotted in under the sand so it can be hidden. Also on the other end create a column structure with with pvc or acrylic rod supports that has some outcroppings. One my dry rock gets here I'll have plenty to try. Thank you all. __________________ New to the Hobby. Working on setting up a 60g

01/15/2015, 10:46 AM	#12
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	If you are using Marco Rocks, do most of the scape with (http://www.marcorocks.com/dry-rock/4...ox-prime-cuts/). You can silicone it to the back glass and keep a lot of open sand. Just put a few strategic pieces in front of the wall pieces to create the depth that you want. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

01/15/2015, 01:40 PM	#14
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	If you are going to have any corals that grow up, out or both, I wouldn't add any rock. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house